Blood pressure testing apparatus



\ ,wszasi Aug. 6, 1946. c. H. M ALPINE BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING APPARATUSFiled Oct. '20, 1942 Patented Aug. 6, 1946 T UNITED STATES Claims.

This invention relates to sphygmomanometers, and more particularly tothe arterial constrictive mechanism thereof, especially the sustainingbands for the pneumatic pressure pads of such devices.

The sustaining bands most commonly employed in sphygmomanometerscomprise relatively long strips of non-elastic fabric which are Wound,in superposed convolutions, about the arms of persons being subjected totests for determining the pressures under which the blood coursesthrough their respective circulatory systems. The free ends of theband-strips are tucked under, pinned, or otherwise secured in positionto one or more of the underlying laps of fabric, to provide nonyieldingbackings for the pneumatic artery constricting pads, respectivelyconfined between the sustaining bands and the arms of the subjects.

A considerable amount of time is required to apply and adjust thewrap-type band to the subects arm, preparatory to making the pressuretest, and also in removing the band from the arm, subsequent to themaking of the test; while the amount of time required to inflate, bleed,and deflate the pneumatic constrictive pad, and to take readingsfrom-the manometer operatively connected thereto in making the actualtest of the subjects blood pressure, is extremely small, amounting, insome instances, to only approximately ten percent of the time consumedby the entire procedure.

Thus, in taking the blood pressures of large numbers of personssuccessively, such as the personnel of large industrial plants,governmental ofiices, etc., and in examining applicants for positions,candidates for enlistment or induction into the armed forces of thenation etc., the passage of the individuals through the examiningprocess, for determining the physical fitness of the subjects, i greatlyimpeded by the use of the conventional wrap-around type of sustainingband.

Primarily, the present invention relates to a sphygmomanometer employinga strap type of sustaining band as a supplantation for the wrap band,and the provision of a suitable quick-acting form of buckle, by whichapplication, adjustment and removal of the band may be rapidly effected,and a material saving of valuable time obtained.

Strap bands with various forms of buckles 2 I V band in a constructedcondition about the arm of the subject.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofquick-acting buckle which will automatically grip an intercooperatingportion of the arm-encircling band, and retain the band, withoutaccidental slippage, in the position of smallest compass to which it hasbeen contracted in adjusting the band to the subjects arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick acting release, ofsimple construction, for use with the buckle by which the sustainingband can be instantaneously freed within the buckle, to permit theinherently resilient band to expand automatically to its largestpossible diameter, rapidly, whereby the band may be quickly slipped offthe arm of one subject and onto the arm of the next subject, withoutloss of time usually occurring with the use of strap bands of knownvarieties, wherein it is necessary to feed and pull the free end of amore 'or less flaccid strap through the buckle manually in applying suchbands to and removing them from the arms of the subjects.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from thedescription. found in the following specification and the illustrationsin the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a sphygmomanometer including asustaining band and buckle constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention, and illustrated as being applied to the arm ofa subject;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the band and buckle taken on the line2-2 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the device.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sphygmomanometer of the present inventionincludes a conventional pressure gauge A, of ordinary construction; a

have been employed with sphygmomanometers heretofore, but theconstructions thereof have been such that no appreciable saving of timeover the use of the wrap-around type has been effected by their use.

One object of the present invention is to so construct the sustainingband of a sphygmomanometer that it will inherently release itselfautomatically from around a subjects arm upon release of the buckleprovided for securing the pneumatic arterial-constrictive pad B, also ofordinary construction, which is connected to the gauge A by a flexibletube a; a pneumatic pump in the form of a hand bulb C connected to theinflatable pad B by a flexible tube b, said bulb being provided with ableeding valve 0 which is common in the art; a sustaining band D, bywhich the constricting pad B is secured in place firmly against thesubjects arm; a quick acting buckle E for ecuring the band D firmly inplace on the subjects arm, with the pad B in contact with the subjectsarm, and for quickly releasing the otherwise free end d of the band D,to permit said band to release itself automatically from its embrace ofthe subjects arm.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the constricting band D is composed of twosuperposed strips,

namely, an inner strip 1 and an outer strip 2 of the fabric, leather orother suitable material, said strips being arranged with theirlongitudinal edges flush with each other, preferably.

The strips I and 2 are secured together by outer longitudinal rows ofstitches 3, 3, which giv the band D a substantially flat tubular form.

Within the tubular band D, between the inner 7 and outer plies l and 2thereof, the band is provided with one or more strips of resilientmaterial, preferably steel, which tend at all times to return to a flatrectilinear form, and by which the inherent tendency of the band D, as awhole, is to straighten out when one end of the band is free or to forminto a ring of maximum diameter when neither end of the band is free.

In the present instance, there are two flat spring-steel strips 5, 5a,confined within the flat tubular band D, with each of the steel stripsconfined in place laterally of the band D, between one of the outerlongitudinal rows of stitches 3 and a laterally spaced inner row 4.

As shown in Fig. 3, one end of the band D is provided with a buckl plate6. The plate 6 is provided with a transverse slot 1 through which oneend of the outer strip 2 of the band D passes and overlaps thecorresponding terminal end of the inner strip I and the steel strips 5,5a, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 2.

The inner and outer strips l and 2, and the steel strips 5, 5a, lie incontact with laterally spaced depending tongue-like extensions 9, 9a ofthe buckle plate 6, and terminate adjacent one side of the slot 1, saidends of said strips and said extensions being rigidly secured togetherby means of rivets ID, 10a.

Intermediate the depending tongues 9, 9a, the buckle plate 6 is providedwith an elongated handle II, which projects through a central recess l2formed in the bent-over end of the outer covering strip 2 of the band D,said handle being ar-.

ranged at an acute angle to the plane of the buckle plate 6, as shown inFig. 2'.

Thebuckle plate 6 is also provided with a pair of ears [5, -l5a whichproject perpendicularly from the opposite side edges respectively ofsaid plate, to afford rotary support for a pair of gripping elements IBand (1, between which the otherwise free end d of the band D passes.

The upper gripping element i6 is in the form of a nip rollconcentrically mounted in the ears l5, [5a while the lower grippingelement I1 is in the form of a cam eccentrically mounted in said ears,as shown in Fig. 2. The cam face of the element I! may be longitudinallyfluted if desired to intensify the rigid gripping of the band D againstaccidental slipping thereof through the bite of said gripping elements|Bl1 when the device is in position on the arm of a subject.

To efiect rotation of the eccentric gripping cam II, to grip and torelease the free end d of the band D, said element is provided with alever 18. The cam I1 is constantly urged to rotate in the direction togrip the band D by a spring l9 having one end secured to the buckleplate 6 and its free end bearing against the under side of the lever 18,by which the cam I1 is released from the band D.

The constricting pad B is secured to the band D, adjacent the endthereof on which the buckle E is secured, said pad being secured to saidband solely by the nipples and 2! to which the gauge tube a and pumptube 17 are respectively attached,

' 4 the band D to the subjects arm and which also serves to keep thefree end 11 from running completely out of the bite of the grippingelements I6 and I! when the buckle E is released and the 5 spring strips5, 5a function to return the whole of the band D to a rectilinear form.The finger grip 22 will engage the top grip roll I6 and prevent suchcomplete freedom of the end d of the band.

In order to prevent the skin or the sleeve of a subjects clothinggetting pinched in the bite of the gripping elements l6 and II, when thedevice is being adjusted on the subjects arm, the buckle plate 6 may beprovided with a pair of 5 forwardly and laterally extending tongues 23,23a

which function as a guide or pinch guard to divert the skin or clothingaway from said grip- Ding elements.

In using the device, with the band D expanded 2Q to its maximum extentand the constricting pad completely deflated, the band D is slipped overthe subjects hand and up the left arm to the desired position above theelbow, with the pad B toward the inside of the arm in position to ef-25' feet constriction of the brachial artery.

With the handle ll grasped in the examiner's left hand, and with histhumb pressing the release lever l8, he effects adjustment of the bandto the arm of the subject by pulling on the finger grip 22, which slidesthe free end d of the band D through the buckle E between the grippersIii-ll. When the band is comfortably firm on the subjects arm, theexaminer releases the lever 48, whereupon the spring I9 rocks thegripper cam l1 into gripping contact with the band D against the gripperroll [6.

The bulb C is then operated to pump air into the bladder B, expandingthis pad until it effects complete constriction of the brachial artery,

as indicated by the arrow a of the manometer A ceasing to oscillate. Airis then bled from the pad B by operating the valve c until slightoscillation of the arrow a begins.

til oscillation of the arrow a again stops. A

reading is then taken on the dial of the manometer A at the point wherethe arrow a has stopped. The blood pressure of the subject is calculatedfrom this reading.

' The examiner then grasps the handle II in his right hand and presseshis thumb against the lever l8, which releases the cam I I from thestrap D, whereupon the springs 5, 5a within said strap immediately causethe band D to expand to its greatest possible diameter ready to beslipped off the arm of the current subject and onto the arm of the next.

As shown in Fig. 4, the outer ends of the levers I! and 18 may be bentas indicated at Ha .;and lSa respectively, in order that the band D maybe coiled about the other elements of the device to reduce the size ofthe device as a whole to the smallest possible dimensions for storing ina physicians satchel, etc.

7 e, Obviously the tube b may be connected to any suitable form ofpressure device, such as a bellows, piston pump, rotary pump, etc.,which can or to a bottle of compressed air, with any suitiable controlvalve included in the line between the bleeding valve 0 and the sourceof pressure, in place of the bulb C, if desired.

It will also be obvious to those familiar with flexible elements thatnatural or synthetic'whale bone or other suitable equivalent for thesteel Additional air is then pumped into the pad un-' be operated byhand, foot or mechanical power,

bands 5, 5a may be employed in place thereof, within the scope of thepresent invention, and that a single wide band may be used in place ofthe two laterally spaced bands 5, 5a.

I claim:

1. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said bucklefor gripping said band along said free end thereof, and means forreleasing said gripping means to permit said free end to move throughsaid buckle under an inherent tendency of the band to assume arectilinear state.

2. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said buckleand including at least one eccentrically mounted element for grippingsaid band along said free end thereof, and means for releasing saidgripping means to permit said free end to move through said buckle underan inherent tendency of the band to assume a rectilinear state.

3. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said buckleand including at least one eccentrically mounted element for grippingsaid band along said free end thereof, and means including aspring-biased lever adapted to efiect rocking of said element forreleasing aid gripping means to permit said free end to move throughsaid buckle under an inherent tendency of the band to assume arectilinear state.

4. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said buckleincluding a nip roll rotatable about a fixed concentric axis, acooperating cam adapted to be oscillated about an eccentric axis,spring-biased means tending at all times to oscillate the said camtoward said roll for gripping said band along said free end thereof, andmeans for releasing said gripping means to permit said free end to movethrough said buckle under an inherent tendency of the band to assume arectilinear state.

5. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle ecured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said buckleincluding a nip roll rotatable about a fixed concentric axis, acooperating cam adapted to be oscillated about an eccentric axis,spring-biased means tending at all times to oscillate said cam towardsaid roll for gripping said band along said free end thereof, means forreleasing said gripping means to permit said free end to move throughsaid buckle under an inherent tendency of the band to assume arectilinear state, and means at the terminus of the free end of saidband for drawing said band through the bite of said nip roll and cam inapplying said band to a subjects arm.

6. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said bucklefor gripping said band along said free end thereof, terminal means onthe free end of said band for pulling said band through said grippingmeans, and a pinch guard carried by said buckle forwardly of saidgripping means.

7. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said bucklefor gripping said band along said free end thereof, terminal means onthe free end of said band for pulling said band through said grippingmeans, and a handle on said buckle for holding one end of said bandduring said pulling thereof.

8. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an inherentlyresilient arm band, a buckle secured to one end and adapted to receivethe opposite free end of said band, means forming part of said bucklefor gripping said band along said free end thereof, terminal means onthe free end of said band for pulling said band through said grippingmeans, a handle on said buckle for holding one end of said band duringsaid pulling thereof, and a spring-biased lever adjacent one end of saidhandle for releasing said gripping means.

9. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an arm bandcomposed of inner and outer coextensive flexible strips, a pair ofinherently resilient longitudinal strips spaced apart laterally betweensaid flexible strips, parallel laterally spaced longitudinal rows ofstitches securing said flexible strips together and said resilent stripsin predetermined relation therebetween, a buckle plate secured to oneend of said band and including a pair of laterally spaced tongues towhich corresponding ends of said resilient strips are respectivelysecured, means carried by said plate for gripping the opposite free endof said band, and a handle on said plate intermediate said tongues forsupporting the one end of the band adjacent a subjects arm during,pulling of said free end of the band through said gripping means duringadjustment of the band on the subjects arm.

10. A sustaining device for a sphygmomanometer comprising an arm bandcomposed of inner and outer coextensive flexible strips, a pair ofinherently resilient longitudinal strips spaced apart laterally betweensaid flexible strips, parallel laterally spaced longitudinal rows ofstitches securing said flexible strips together and said resilientstrips in predetermined relation therebetween, 9. buckle plate securedto one end of said band and including a pair of laterally spaced tonguesto which corresponding ends of said resilent strips are respectivelysecured, means car ried by said plate for gripping the opposite free endof said band, a handle on" said plate intermediate said tongues forsupporting the one end of the band adjacent a subjects arm duringpulling of said free end of the band through said gripping means toeffect adjustment of the band on the subjects arm, one of said flexiblestrips terminating adjacent a transverse slot in said plate throughwhich the other of said flexible strips extends and overlaps said plateand said end of the first said strip, and means for securing the ends ofsaid resilient and said flexible strips to said tongues at oppositesides of said handle.

CHARLES H. MCALPINE.

